The United States has expanded social-media screening as part of visa processing, and it now applies squarely to international students.
What is required
- On the DS-160 form, applicants must list every social-media platform they have used in the past five years.
- F-1, M-1 and J-1 applicants have been asked to set their social-media accounts to public so they can be reviewed.
- Consular officers are directed to conduct a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of each applicant’s online presence.
Wider rollout in 2026
From 30 March 2026, the State Department extended social-media vetting to more than a dozen additional visa categories, building on rules that already applied to students and exchange visitors.
An important warning
Declaring “None” when you actually hold accounts is treated as misrepresentation and can lead to a permanent visa ineligibility. List your handles accurately.
What it means for you
Before your interview: complete the DS-160 truthfully, list all platforms, review your public posts for consistency with your study plans, and be ready to discuss your online activity. This runs alongside already-high F-1 refusal rates, so a genuine, well-documented application matters more than ever.